Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

Preliminary results compiled from visual observations and questionnaires indicated that a large variety of crops including soyabean, cowpea, groundnut, maize, rice, and sorghum were attacked at planting and seedling stages of growth by the red-eyed turtle dove (Streptopelia semitorguata). The social conditions under which this bird is protected, by social taboos and also as an attractive and common household pet in many parts of Nigeria, limit the control options that could be used to stop its deleterious activities. In the meantime, research efforts are being directed to the understanding of the population ecology and biology of the species as a prerequisite to determining appropriate control strategies.